anyhow, we mostly shopped and ate.  we went to our local park and spent the entire day there for one of the days which is always fun because there's so much to do, nature center, petting zoo, gorgeous lush gardens, it's just fantastic!  my sister and i left the girls to nap with my mom a couple of times and did some serious shopping, mostly for her.  i bought a pair of shoes and a ton of underwear... i love marshalls!  then after the girls would go to bed the three of us "adults" would stay up late into the nights.  we were watching olympics, bullshitting around, trying on my clothes & shoes, doing girl stuff.  the best though was the last night they were here.  we somehow got on the topic of my imaginary wedding, of which my sister is well aware of the planning i've already done.  it was all a surprise to my mother though.  once the conversation got started we were all up past 2am discussing and planning.  it was wonderful!   well except the part where my mother already started disagreeing with my ideas and telling me they're not good choices.  i was amazed that my mom can even find a way to disrupt my make-believe wedding with her strong opinions.  we were able to get past some things but i can already see we're going to have some problems.  she's very opinionated (that's where i get it from) and we have different tastes which becomes an issue.   i already know that M and i will be fronting the $ so as far as i'm concerned her opinions are welcome but will not be the deciding factor.  i'm kinda dreading the fights that i now know will happen.  oh well.  we'll get through it.

overall it was a great trip and i can't wait to go home and see them all again next month!

~ today i learned... American Airlines saved $40,000 in 1987 by eliminating 1 olive from each salad served in first-class ~

Lately it seems like I’ve been stuck in a rut. In many ways – work, fashion, hair, love, life. My apathy knows no bounds. I come home from work with great intentions to clean my hovel of a flat and even whilst faced with the yawning abyss that is my kitchen sink, I somehow can’t seem to find the motivation. (Well now, I’m thinking, if I can’t find the motivation to get my mottled ass in shape and run around the park that is literally outside my sitting room window, how the hell am I supposed to care about the dishes?)

As I’ve mentioned somewhere before, my mother’s advice to me when I go into one of my black troughs is to keep shaving my legs and putting my face on (I swear she’s not Patsy or Eddie from Absolutely Fabulous).

I was brought up to make the best of what I’ve got, which means brushing your hair, putting an outfit together and never leaving the house without make-up. I used to be like this. I was the teenager who suggested we put more lipstick on my (beloved) granny’s corpse in the funeral home because she too loved her slap and would have been disappointed that the mortician chose a nude shade for her lip colour; I’m the girl who a few years ago had to buy a third, count ‘em, GHD because I had blown up two previously from overuse.

Pah! It makes me ashamed to see how I’ve let myself slip. Somehow, without realising, I’ve sunk into a slow decline, where I’ve paid less and less attention to myself and gotten very used to being invisible. I suppose over the past two years I’ve had a job where my colleagues were almost entirely men (computer geeks) and a boyfriend who didn’t care too much for putting on the glad rags and somehow it all seemed to rub off on me.

Last weekend it felt like a bell rang in my head. I went out on Friday night, got very enjoyably pissed with friends and socialised with strangers, something I hadn’t done in a very, very long time. When I woke the next day, with a hangover, it really did feel like a bell was ringing in there. Still, I got up, cleaned the house from top to bottom, washed the car, then got into it and drove to Dundrum in my worn-out, greying clothes. I stocked up on jeans, a new top, shoes, Cons, cheapo jewellery and a shiny, shiny handbag.

The following day, I dressed myself in my new wares, stuck Fleet Foxes in the stereo and went to do the recycling. I felt great. For the first time in as long as I can remember, I had actually ‘made an effort’ and it made me feel good about myself. I was smiling to myself as I lugged the recycling to the giant bins. Then a man, total stranger, took the bag of papers out of my hands and emptied it into the bin for me. I swear I nearly swooned. And the man was 60. But still, Jesus, it reminded me of the wisdom in my mother’s words. I may even try some fake tan this week.

1. All you kind and very positive commenter's. I really appreciate your words, encouragement and general interest. I hate talking about this stuff and am thankful you still read it and have something to send back. :)
2. I love, love, love, LOVE Jennifer Saunders. No seriously, I love this woman her comedic ability in the BBC. What started out with "Absolutely Fabulous" has shifted in various things I find amusing. My current love? This video spoof of "Harry Potter". Please watch if you enjoy BBC humor. Thanks Amy!
3. It's time to paint the nails. Yes, it's time to push away the tears and do what I really enjoy about being a girl. The nail color is called "Rock-On Red", which isn't red at all. Huh...
4. It's also time for ice cream. No, not delicious custard from Harry's, but simple non-fat Dryer's will do. Add chocolate and caramel, of course.

Thanks again for all the support. I'm glad I'm not babbling to myself. :)

J'emprunte ce gimmick à Dominique A. je suis sûre qu'il ne m'en voudra pas. (Allez Dominique ! Tu permets que je t'appelles Dominique ? Ce n'est pas comme si j'étais envoutée par cette chanson au point de la citer sans cesse ? Si ? Bon. Allez ! juste une dernière fois...)

Je rentre à l'instant chez moi, après trois petits verres de Martini Rosso (et leurs délicates rondelles d'orange), biens frais, doux et sucrés comme il se doit... et voici que je tombe nez à nez avec ce tag que me refourgue ma copine Evin.
Je dois avouer que je ne suis pas très tag (ni taz d'ailleurs), mais que certains d'entre eux m'amusent.

Aujourd'hui, parce qu'il est minuit passé et l'ivresse aidant, je décide de relever le défi ! (Et puis je suis presque obligée de le faire puisque j'avais refusé le dernier tag en date. Deux fois de suite c'était trop impoli pour Madame "trop bonne trop conne" que je suis à mes heures.)
Je n'ai pas pour habitude de répondre à des tags demandant des réponses aussi intimes (c'est que j'ai de la famille qui lit moi !), je décide donc, comme à mon habitude de prendre le tout avec une grande légèreté et vous propose mes modestes réponses (qui j'espère ne seront pas trop influencées par celles que j'aie pu lire à l'instant) :

:: Si j’étais un slip : je serais confortable avant tout, en coton noir, mais toutefois orné de quelques liserés de dentelle colorée, assorti les grands soirs - ou parfois par hasard, au soutien-gorge correspondant. Mais sans jamais vraiment forcer sur le destin.

:: Si j’étais un Sextoy : je serais discret et efficace, à utiliser seul(e) ou à deux.

:: Si J’étais un fantasme : je serais réalisable dans les hautes herbes, un après-midi brûlant d'été, là où le vent saurait jouer avec nos cheveux, portés par le concert des feuillus alentours.

:: Si je devais faire l’amour avec un animal : il serait de la famille des Homo sapiens (sapiens). Il aurait j'imagine son côté Erectus, mais si c'était l'amant de mon choix, il saurait bien sûr jouer de cette fantaisie avec élégance.
De plus, cet animal aurait beau savoir qu'il sait, il serait suffisamment galant pour me faire croire que j'ai raison (et de toutes façons, c'est prouvé, j'ai toujours raison, donc son rôle serait assez simple).

:: Si je devais te dire quelque chose à l’oreille pendant qu’on fait l’amour : ce serait quelque chose de furtif mais intense. Tendre ou cruel, suivant l'humeur. Prémédité ou non... Les mots dans ces moments là sont souvent incontrôlés... et c'est malheureusement le lieu de quiproquo et de révélations erronnées, voire totalement extrapolées. Qui sait donc quel(s) mot(s) je serais ?

:: Si j’étais Clara Morgane, mais avec mon cerveau actuel : dans un premier temps je serais bien surpise ! Imagine-toi, toi, te retrouver dans le corps de Clara Morgane. Parce que bon, mon cerveau actuel aurait bien du mal à se trouver dans son corps, penses-tu ! Passées les curiosités, peut-être que j'essaierais de jouer un peu de cet outil qu'on me donne (histoire de vérifier quoi)... et puis surtout, je serais blonde. Et ça, ça ne s'apprend pas comme ça...
Blagues à part, j'imagine surtout que je serais tout simplement la même qu'aujourd'hui, probablement avec les mêmes complexes, les mêmes désirs, les mêmes hésitations... Après tout, mon cerveau est déjà dans un corps sympa (bon, je ne me compare pas à Clara, je suis bien loin de ces canons, mais tout de même, je ne me plains pas...)... et ce n'est pas pour autant que ce cerveau apprécie le corps qu'il dirige.

:: Si j’étais une zone érogène : je serais répartie sur l'intégralité de la surface du corps, sur une peau fine et douce très réactive au stimulus.

:: Si j’étais un détail absolument irrésistible : je serais une veine saillante, au creux de l'avant bras d'un homme ou chevauchant délicatement le dessus d'une main délicate aux longs doigts.

:: Si j’avais une morale sexuelle : je n'oublierais jamais aucun de mes actes et serais toujours sobre et alerte, pour profiter au maximum de ces instants. Je serais la morale d'une sexualité consciente et libérée, prônant et prodigant les valeurs perdues du romantisme.

:: Si je me réveillais demain sans pénis ni vagin : j'aurais pour commencer un sérieux problème d'identité... puis je m'ouvrirais sûrement à d'autres possibilités et l'éventualité de goûter à bien d'autres plaisirs.

Je ne sais qui a fait ou non ce tag, je ne taguerai donc personne... à moins que les nouveaux propriétaires du blog des BoB Trotters ne veulent ne s'y essayer (Au moins toi, Miss Obar Dheathain Chacha !) ? Et toi Gaby, l'as-tu fait ?
Des réponses masculines seraient fort intéressantes. J'ai l'impression de n'avoir vu ce tag que dans des espaces féminins (oui, bon, nous sommes peut-être aussi un peu futiles...).

Je vous souhaite une fois de plus une très belle nuit...

Au plaisir...

Je n'ai rien à te raconter aujourd'hui, mais j'ai bien senti que tu étais resté comme tétanisé à la fin de mon dernier billet.
Tu t'imaginais, gentil lecteur que tu es, que je ne pourrai plus jamais travailler, puisqu'ayant confié l'espace compris entre ma fenêtre et mon volet à une monstrueuse araignée du néolithique (au moins, je ne vois que ça !).
Pauvre Sebika, reléguée à un été sans travail (intellectuel) ! Snif !
Et de dormir à côté de la Bête chaque nuit.
C'est pas une vie !

Bon. Figure-toi que ma maman elle a eu la même peur que toi ! Elle s'est inquiétée pour mon avenir et est partie à l'assaut du monstre.

Voici comment j'apprenais hier que pendant que j'étais tranquillement à accueillir des tas de visiteurs dans mon phare, et bien ma maman passait l'aspirateur dans la maison, jusqu'à l'antre de la bête.
C'est ainsi que j'imagine le combat de Titans qui s'est produit... soldé par une grande gagnante : ma maman !
Ma maman à moi, c'est un super-héros ! Ca t'en bouche un coin non ?!! (J'adore cette expression !)

Je tenais donc à remercier cette dernière, qui pourra désormais être rassurée : je vais à nouveau pouvoir ouvrir mes volets durant son absence et travailler.
Mais pas trop non plus hein ?

Quant aux nouvelles fraîches, figure-toi, ô lecteur assidu, qu'hier dans un élan de bonté (?) j'acceptais de reconduire mon contrat chez Acadomia jusqu'à la date de ma rentrée ! Pas de répit pour les braves ! J'enchaînerai donc la saison sur mes légendaires gardes d'enfants... qui s'achêveront le 26 septembre... pour que je puisse enfin préparer ce redoutable concours !

Pfou ! Ca me fatigue déjà, pas toi ?
Quoi qu'il en soit, j'ai hâte de retrouver mon petit chez moi, mine de rien !

Bon week-end !

Aujourd'hui il m'est arrivé quelque chose d'absolument incroyable.
Je dirais même que c'était absolument fabuleux.
Alors que je m'apprêtais à passer une journée tranquille, avec une petite séance cinéma en fin d'après-midi, l'orage s'abattait sur la région.

Un orage, dans une vie, qu'est-ce que c'est, concrètement ?
Peu de chose, si ce n'est pour moi un chamboulement dans mes plans et une prise de décision qui ferait basculer cette journée dans une dimension parallèle : aujourd'hui, je décidais de (ré)entreprendre la lecture de ce fameux ouvrage CAPESsien dont je faisais l'acquisition il y a quelques mois. Un livre ô combien passionnant que je ne peux que savourer au compte goutte...

A cet instant précis, et comme à ton habitude, tu te demandes sûrement où je veux en venir avec mon introduction un peu longue.
Dans quelques instants, tu pourras même crier à qui veut l'entendre un puissant : "Tout ça pour ça !??".
Mais pour le moment, attendons le dénouement de l'histoire.

Voici donc qu'il fallait, pour commencer à travailler, débroussailler ce qui fut autrefois mon bureau... et surtout : ouvrir les volets de cette chambre close.
Jusque là, tout va bien.
Mais ce serait sans compter sur le côté champêtre du lieu d'habitation... ou de l'idée que ce même volet n'est absolument JAMAIS ouvert, pour la simple et bonne raison que je ne suis JAMAIS dans ma chambre en dehors de mes nuits - plus ou moins longues.
Je vous avoue donc quelle fut ma stupeur - et ma frayeur - de voir à l'instant même où prenant mon courage à deux mains j'ouvrais l'antre isolée... des dizaines d'insectes, grouillant en tous points, allant et venant d'un côté comme de l'autre, encore plus effrayés que moi même de les voir en cet endroit.
Tous s'échappaient donc vaillamment. Tous ? Tous. A l'exception d'une irréductible araignée, ÉNOOORME, velue, charnue, à rayures jaunes et noires.
Le monstre est encore à cette heure à sa place, veillant sur l'espace que je lui ai sans le vouloir attribué... Je crains de ne plus vraiment travailler les jours qui viennent... de peur de devoir à nouveau affronter la bête.

Tout cela pour dire que je songeais quelques instants plus tard, histoire de me calmer un peu de mes émotions, de voir si, par hasard, un groupe Facebook n'aurait pu manifester toute l'horreur que je pense d'elles...
Et de trouver ce fameux groupe.
Et de lire ceci :

"On avale en moyenne une dizaine d'araignées par an pendant notre sommeil !"

Ainsi que ceci :

"En moyenne, où qu'on soit, quel que soit l'endroit, on n'est jamais à plus de 90cm d'une araignée.."

Autant vous dire que ne n'ai aucune idée de la véracité de ces dires, que je vérifierai peut-être un jour où j'en aurai le temps (et surtout l'envie)... Une chose est sûre, l'idée même qu'ils soient un tant soit peu véridiques m'effraie.

Les légendes urbaines vont bon train, les insectes et autres bêtes aux multiples paires de pattes, aux nombreux poils s'éveillent à l'heure où nos yeux se ferment... veillant, scrutant et s'emparant de chaque centimètre carré de nos vies, laissés sans surveillance le temps d'un repos auquel nous ne pouvons échapper.

Belle nuit, fiers compagnons.
Ne songez pas trop à ces histoires... pourvu que vos bouches soient scellées.

# Edit. Désolée pour les fautes et les phrases non terminées, je viens juste de m'en apercevoir.

I started watching the BBC comedy, Absolutely Fabulous when I was 14. I used to babysit my brother's best friend and his mom had the best movies on VHS tapes and the biggest TV screen I had ever watched them on - 21 inches was huge back then (1996).

The best tapes I watched over and over again, were the three seasons of Absolutely Fabulous that were so funny, they were immediately quotable. My best friend Cait and I would watch endless episodes in dead of the summer, calling each other, "Sweetie, darling" and wishing we could swill champers and bolly.

And although the show is no longer on and the website is no longer updated, my love for AbFab continues to grow. Jennifer Saunders (Edina, and Joanna Lumley (Patsy Stone) are comedic geniuses and they are in true form at 0:55 in the clip above, also known as my favorite clip. HILARIOUS!

Below, is my second favorite clip: "Is it a bee?"

Top Gear is meer dan een televisieprogramma, het is ook een papieren magazine en een way of life. De drie hoofdpresentatoren Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond en James May voeren de zotste opdrachten uit en gaan de meest bizarre uitdagingen aan.  Zo waren Clarkson en May de eerste mensen om met een wagen naar de Noordpool te rijden. Top Gear ís controversieel, maar de producers gaan de polemiek ook niet uit de weg.

Surf maar eens op de site en geniet. Of kijk naar onderstaande aflevering. Special guest was toen Jennifer Saunders, Edina van AbFab.

[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=4358083225213130587]

Zondag heb je een extra reden om te kijken, dan komt Sabine Schmitz met het TG-team racen op het circuit van Zolder.

it's been 6mos and i'm a person with alot of favorites so here we go again, but now that i'm slightly(and i intentionally stress that word) more blog savvy we now have pictures too.  so if i were Oprah you'd all be lucky, but alas i am not, so you will just have to hope i hit the lotto last night in which case i'll buy everyone some of each of these.

here's what i love...

... pampered chef batter bowls.  they're wonderful.  i really love these 4cup bowls with lids.  they have measuring marks on the side so they're perfect for measuring out and mixing anything right in the bowl and then you just toss the lid on (so perfect for pudding!)  they also come with a recipe to make cake right in the bowl!  i've never tried it but it sounds FUN!  i think they come in 4c. and 8c. sizes... i have 2 of the 4c. ones.  

... bath & body soaps.  i like to use the foaming ones in the bathroom in sweet scents, like the cherry blossom or honey suckle and i use the regular gel style clean scent ones in the kitchen, like the citrus herb. (apparently they no longer have that one online, but the kitchen herb is really nice too)

... Hue foot care thingys.  they have all of the cushioning you could need for your shoes.  and they come in clear which is so nice.  i am typically a fan of the ball cushions but they have a full sole cushion that is heaven too.  if you're a thong sandal wearer they even have the things that wrap around to protect that area between your big toe and next toe (whatever it's called) and i like to use these on the top edge of some of my flats so that they don't rub.  i also love these because i can get them at my favorite place here... which leads me to the next thing

... TJ Maxx gift cards.  i love this store.  anyone who's read more than 2 of my posts would know that.  i think it's just heaven and i spend way too much time and money there.  but i have so much great stuff because of it!  how can you beat great, comfortable, cute underwear for $1.99?!?

... maggy london dresses.  i'm obsessed with these.  they're so flattering on so many bodies.  yes, they're not the cheapest but you can find them on some super sale deals at Macy*s.  and, yah, hi, many of them have POCKETS!  freakin LOVE!  and the step down brand, London Times, can be often found at (you guessed it) TJ Maxx!

... yankee candles.  i'm sorry but no other candles give off the same powerful scents.  i know they're overpriced which is why i like to use the coupons and get them at BB&B or LNT.  i light these all the time.  clean cotton is classic but i've really taken to the honeysuckle for the warm months.  yes, i love reed diffusers and lamp oils too but these are just awesome.

... bite size snickers.  i bought them once around the holidays because i wanted to put something out at my desk for others to snack on too, and i'm now addicted.  eating an entire snickers bar literally hurts my teeth, but i always want to do it anyway.  these are the perfect size!  who cares if i eat 3 or 4 at a time?  still not the equivalent of an entire bar.  plus they're easier to share, don't be stingy with your chocolate : )

... inStyle magazine.  i've been a subscriber for a while.  it's the only magazine that's lasted with me.  you know, you read Seventeen up until you're 16 and them you move to Cosmo and Glamour.  then at some point after college you move on to Elle, InStyle, and Vogue.  sometimes you even get hooked on Harpars Bazaar.  i've gone through so many different subscriptions of women's magazines and this is still my favorite.

have a good weekend everyone!  i'm off to the races tomorrow.

~ today i learned... Mexico and Iceland consume the most Coca-Cola per capita ~

M is perfectly content playing mariokart but i'm starting to need variety

this just came out... like on tuesday i think.  the only issue?  we'd both want to be VT and dominate... not sure if same team games are allowed in this version. 

umm, so yah, this has beirut.  that's right, beer pong for you non-new englanders.  i think it's awesome and at the same time i'm not sure if it would be nearly as much fun.  if nothing else at least it'd be practice right?  without having to go get your stomach pumped after.  (though honestly, i think my beirut days are long passed)

we never really have time to play much Wii anyway so i don't see us actually going out to get these any time soon, but it would be nice to have some more options anyway.  i mean someday (in a far away galaxy) we'll live together and then at least i'll have more time to play.  did i mention i work from home?

********************************
on a completely unrelated note, am i the only person who thinks the TMobile commercial where they substitute "hello" for "goodbye" and they have farve saying "hello" to football after 17 years is funny and quite ironic?  anyone?  no?  it's just me?  i don't believe it.

if you don't know what i'm talking about click on the moving one here
and if you're not a follower of NFL then read this article
put it together

~ today i learned... donald duck's middle name is fauntleroy ~

i think it's fairly obvious in any of my past posts about purchases where i typically note how much i spent vs the original price.  i used to also be mildly obsessed (and may still be) with saving money on my groceries either by coupons or just store club discounts.  at my grocery store your receipt tells you how much you saved via these methods for that transaction and how much you've spent and saved for the year.  it's my goal to always save At Least 10% during each shopping encounter there.  and i've even put some extraordinary results on the fridge, like my receipt that showed my savings of almost 30%.  which on groceries, isn't that easy.

so when i post about some great deal i just found it's simply because i do not have any girlfriends here to brag to.  my main goal in these braggings is simply to let others cash in on the same great deal.  because i know that if someone told me where to go to get a good deal on a specific thing, there's a good chance i just might do it.  so really, i'm trying to do you all a service.  people pay for these kinds of services.  so technically i guess you owe me.  and i don't take Discover.

the moral of this story: the Nordstrom's sale starts on friday.  any girl who loves dresses should make note of this.  they have one of the best online dress sections of all major dept. stores.  i, so sadly, will not be able to partake as my previous posts have pointed out.  i've used up my shopping allowance for the month.  but i hope someone takes advantage of it.  please.  for me?  go out there and Save!  then tell me all about the deals you got!  really, i love hearing that crap.  i really do.  i'm weird like that.  because it's not about what you spend, it's all about what you save!

~ today i learned... your odds of being killed by space debris are approx. 1 in 5 billion ~

because i just found this image online. 

1st - let me say that i have this suit.  i bought it a year ago.  in white.  i was determined to have a one-piece and was beginning to give up.  it seemed like i either needed to get a speedo racing suit or a suit for old ladies.  not what i had in mind.  so when i saw this i was thrilled!  i get compliments every single time i wear it.  i've had people ask me where i got it, who makes it, everything you can think of.  there's nothing better than being in a swimsuit (which, let's face it is the most vulnerable girls get when it comes to public appearances) and being complimented.

2nd - i'm going to point out that this picture doesn't do it justice.  you can't see the detail in the straps.  the way they're twisted and looped together at the very top of the shoulder.  the model just isn't right, she looks kinda alien in it.  the chick's got no hips (not knocking that, in fact i'm jealous of girls w/out hips) i'm just saying that for this suit to look good you need to have hips.  the whole point of the design is to balance out your hips.  so picture this same suit but on someone with hips and you can imagine how fun it is.  when i bought it i couldn't find a thing about it online i just knew it felt very liz taylor to me so i had to have it. 

3rd - i'm going to brag that i got it last year at marshall's for $39.  the tag said $118.  and now that i've finally found the name and everything online this year, it's still going for about $80.  i'm awesome

4th - i'm one of the best sister's in the world.  my sister and i have the same body, just different by the lbs.  so when i saw these suits back in marshall's the other day, but in black, i snagged her one.  unfortunately they didn't have my size or else i'd have a black one too.  i also bought her a RL beach cover-up similar to the one i have since she was saying she liked mine when we were at the beach during my last visit.  i love shopping for other people... it's almost as much fun as shopping for myself.

other than this one, i find CK to personally have the best bathing suits.  they're usually fairly moderate but with just a kick of style, which is what i look for in all of my clothing.  i've always been a two-piece girl up until this suit.  i'm convinced now that even though i want to be tan across as much flesh as possible, i also really like parading around in a flattering one piece WAY more than any flattering 2piece. 

~ today i learned... owls are left-sighted hunters.  and apparently the animal kingdom knows this, so when you need to buy a fake owl to keep critters (woodpeckers, etc) away from your property make sure you get one with the head facing to the left because the ones facing to the right don't scare any animals/birds/etc. ~

since i've declared $$$ lockdown i've definitely pulled back from the spending i was doing earlier this year.  i've been really proud of myself.  and i've been especially good about talking myself out of buying something by not only reminding me that i have to pay off my invisalign but that i'll also be saving for my imaginary wedding.  so when i've come across a really cute pair of shoes at macy*s i've been able to say "i can live without them".  when i've come across an awesome bag at tj maxx i've told myself "yes, but a lhuillier dress would be nicer".  that is, up until now.  in the last week something snapped.  i guess it has mostly to do with me going in and out of shopping phases but i'm definitely not in control right now. 

as i mentioned in my last post, last week i bought something similar to this dress.  and then i was online looking at those awesome t-strap shoes and found a clutch that i fell in love with and it was on clearance for $20, so i made a passive aggressive move and added it to "my cart".  i waited a few days and this weekend finally hit the checkout button, which i guess i kind of knew all along i'd do.  but then during the checkout process i got stopped.  it wasn't accepting my credit cards.  i tried 2 different ones.  i knew it wasn't because i can't pay for a $20 clutch but probably had something to do with the online store.  so i decided i needed to check my cards.  in reading one of my usual blogs i came across info about a really cute dress on sale at jcrew for $30.  she also posted a free shipping code so i was sold.  except the free shipping code wasn't working anymore.  and without it i just couldn't justify the price anymore.  it was like i wasn't supposed to be shopping, these were signs from above.  so instead of heading the warnings i casually dragged M into jcrew when we set out for groceries.  it turned out to be a good idea (my justification anyway) because the ladies stuff was an extra 25% off of sale and men's an extra 40%!  M even bought a few things, which doesn't happen that often.  and while they didn't have the dress i was trying to get online they did have another dress.  and i knew i had no where to wear a silk dress but i fell in love anyway.  unfortunately i really wanted to buy 2 of them, and neither for me.  i wanted to get them for my 2 future imaginary bridesmaids.  and i almost did it.  i still kinda wish i did.  because i LOVE this dress.  and when i came home i immediately logged onto jcrew.com to see if they had a picture.  lucky enough, they did.  and a price.  it was originally $168.  guess what i got it for.....  lower...... no, lower.... okay, i'll tell you.  78% off.  i got this dress for thirty seven bucks!  and it has freakin' pockets!  i love shopping!!  (you can see it on the websitetoo. it comes in other colors, love the grey/beige combo, and they call this one spicy mustard but it's really more green than it appears)  if you're looking for Cheap Fun bridesmaids dresses that are flattering on most figures and your girls will be able to wear again suggest running out to your local store now!

i tried again to get the clutch when i got home but had same issue with payment.  i know my credit card works because jcrew took it.  so today i'm headed out to get my imprints done for my teeth and i'll be damned if i'm not stopping at the mall too.  i'm getting this clutch.  i'm either grabbing it there or getting them to order it for me.  i know i have a problem and i should just forget about it and stop spending money, but i can't help myself.  i love bargains!!  i can't pass them up.  anyone want to stage an intervention for me?  because the only thing i can think of is having my credit card and checkbook taken away.  otherwise i'm afraid i can't stop.   here's what my future clutch looks like...

did i also neglect to mention that i bought a martha stewart wine caddy thingy the other week?  yah, it was another steal i got for 75% off... carries (and comes with) 2 glasses, re-cork, and corkscrew, and a bottle of wine (not included).  i can't wait to use it.

so i guess i'm back on $$$ lockdown again.  that was my little reprieve and i hope i got it all out of my system.  i guess only time (and my bank balance) will tell...

~ today i learned... in Columbia an individual can be fined up to $90k for gossiping ~

Il est des jours où de grandes vagues de solitudes vous submergent.
De ces jours où l'on se sent la dernière personne sur terre, où l'on est proche du caniveau et où vraisemblablement, tout semble fait pour vous conforter vers une seule et même idée : "mais comment en suis-je arrivé(e) là ?!".

Le charme n'opère plus. Le public est déçu... et les mauvais commentaires vont bon train.
Je sais pourtant que cette mauvaise expérience est due à une modification de mon rôle, qui s'est amoindrit au point que j'ai parfois l'impression d'être devenue dame-pipi (je n'ai rien contre les dames-pipi, soyons clairs, mais ce n'est pas ce pour quoi je suis employée).
Voici donc que je suis payée pour accueillir, vendre des tickets et faire des visites guidées à la chaîne, dans une industrie où le visiteur arrive toujours réfractaire au lieu qu'il visite.
Il fait un temps de chien, il s'ennuie et il décide d'amener sa ribambelle de gamins insupportables justement là où je bosse. Pas de bol...
Comme si je leur avais forcé la main.
Comme s'ils pensaient trouver Versailles là où ils n'auront que du patrimoine de seconde zone (ce qui n'enlève en rien son charme, mais restons modestes !). Et de faire la grise mine lorsqu'ils pénètrent dans le lieu.
Et vous savez quoi ? C'est forcément ma faute ! Bah voyons !

Là, on m'appelle Madame à tour de bras. (Rhaaa ! Mais ne m'appelez pas, merci, j'aimerais autant !)
Là, je dois accueillir des gens qui n'arrivent jamais à l'heure (et qui ne comprennent pas que sur un horaire de 30mn, si tu passes tout ton temps à attendre qu'ils arrivent, au final tu ne fais rien de l'après-midi), vendre des billets, m'excuser pour les problèmes logistiques qu'ils ont rencontré sur leur passage avant d'arriver jusqu'à moi... me prendre leurs réflections désobligeantes (qui même passées sous le coup de l'humour sont quand même placées)...
Le tout avec le sourire. Et plutôt deux fois qu'une.
Et de commencer un commentaire (court puisque je n'ai qu'une demi-heure pour effectuer l'ensemble de la tâche, visite et progression dans les escaliers comprise) qu'ils ont réclamé, mais qu'ils n'écoutent que d'une oreille, sans même me regarder, tout en continuant parfois à discuter les uns avec les autres.

Bon. Bref. Au final, je ressens un énorme sentiment d'échec.
Alors, bien sûr, il y a toujours des gens absolument charmants. Voire plus.
En ce début de saison, j'ai surtout eu affaire à la première catégorie.

Quand après deux après-midi (heureusement que j'échappe aux matinées !) de travail on rentre chez soi avec en tête quelques insultes, quelques remarques désobligeantes (qui d'ailleurs ne me concernent en rien), quelques billets doux de type "trop de la merde", "la visite c'étaient null", "c'est pourri ici", etc. versés sur le livre d'or... On a beau n'être qu'une simple employée et n'être pas visée par les remarques... Il se trouve que malgré tout, lorsqu'on travaille quelque part, on se trouve être une sorte de "vitrine" du lieu.

Et de se sentir bête, souillé, rabaissé en rentrant chez soi. D'avoir calqué sur soi ces impressions négatives.

J'avais déjà été insultée. Ca oui. Ca avait été difficile sur le coup (c'était la première année et je n'avais pas su gérer une affluence monstre en début de contrat... pour finalement appeler à l'aide en larmes). Depuis, j'avais la situation bien en main.
Mais tout n'évolue jamais dans le même sens.
En supprimant 30mn de temps horaire à mes visites (rentabilité, etc.), soit la moitié de mon temps, on a supprimé l'âme et l'intérêt de mon job. On m'a transformée en dame-pipi. On m'a attribué un rôle qui ne me plaît absolument pas.

C'est la première année que je récolte de mauvais commentaires sur "mon" livre d'or. Qui bien qu'ils soient donnés par de pauvres adolescents boutonneux désireux de se faire remarquer, en révolte ou tout ce que vous voulez... lorsque je lis ces mots, je suis touchée. Et je rentre chez moi dépitée, en passant par 30mn de bouchon où l'automobiliste lambda vient ajouter un poids à mon stress.

Et je voudrais fuir. Loin.
J'ai l'impression de retrouver mes quatorze ans. Cet âge que personne ne devrait jamais vivre.
D'avoir des comptes à rendre. D'endosser des poids adressés à d'autres. D'être incompétente. De perdre confiance trop rapidement jusqu'à disparition de mes moyens et régression au stade infantile.

Puis de digérer. Et de conclure que quoi qu'on fasse, où qu'on aille, c'est le même refrain.
D'être outrée par l'indiscipline et l'impolitesse des masses. De leur bêtise et de leur ignorance.
Et de se demander quelle place nous devons tenir dans ce monde. Si au final, nous n'en sommes pas la tare. Si le problème ne vient pas de soi.
Et d'être le paria d'une société absurde.

Voici mon sentiment, ce soir.
Voici ce que je ressens pratiquement chaque jour (ne serait-ce parfois qu'un millième de seconde).

De ne dresser aucune hierarchie entre soi et les autres mais de constater qu'il existe un fossé béant de l'un à l'autre.
Et d'attendre la délivrance lorsqu'enfin on peut se confronter à ceux qu'on aime en y voyant le reflet de nos propres valeurs. Et d'exulter.

Je me laisse aller ce soir. Un besoin d'évacuer cet étrange sentiment qui me parcourt depuis hier, sentiment renforcé par ce temps maussade et pluvieux.
Etonnant comme les événements peuvent prendre un tout autre jour sous les rayons du soleil.

Confusion, mélange, étourderies.
Je ne me relis jamais. C'est un grand défaut, mais je l'assume.
Oh, et puis je n'ai pas envie de mettre d'image pour le moment. Alors on verra ça plus tard si vous le voulez bien. Si tant est que vous soyiez là pour me lire.
Et le tout sans tag, voyez-vous cela !

Demain sera un autre jour, m'as-tu souvent fait promettre.

why when i'm on money lockdown (so i can have bright straight teeth) do i come across such things of awesomeness?  such things that i will now begin to lust over?  why do i find these shoes now??

i mean look at them?  they're made especially for me (at least they appear to be).  i lust them.  and i believe they lust me back.  oh man.  if anyone wants to get me an early birthday present by all means these would be a good idea! (speaking of, i already tried to talk M into buying me an "early birthday gift" of this gorgeous black and white little KC jacket that we saw at marshall's.  it was on sale for $50... made it too rich for my money crunch spur of the moment purchases though.  makes me wanna cry sad broke ass tears) 
and yah, in full disclosure, i totally went back to marshall's 2 days later to buy it for myself.  what? i was going to use my visa so i would get reward points, not a big deal right?  and anyway i ended up buying a dress instead.  it was cheaper so i decided it was the smarter choice.  plus this year i've been trying to increase my dress wardrobe and i couldn't pass this one up, it was so cute.  similar to the one pictured but it is v neck, with a v cut back (LOVE that) and the straps go to all black at the shoulders, oh and the print is a little different shape but it's big on the top and the same print but smaller on the bottom.  and the best part?  the part that's ALWAYS a selling point for me?  it's a london time dress (made by the fabulous maggy london line) so it has pockets!  i can't wait to wear it to the horse races next weekend!

okay, yes, that kinda defeats my $ lockdown concept, but it was $30.  c'mon?  who can pass up such a cute dress for $30?!?  especially when one only has 3 outfits to wear when the temps exceed 88 and one lives in the midatlantic where one spends 3 months in the 90-100 degree range?  i can justify shopping like this all day.

~ today i learned... the only letter not appearing on the Periodic Table is the letter "j"~

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, sweetie darling, you have given me years of comic genius and for that, this one's on me.

Some choice words from Edina Monsoon played by Jennifer Saunders who is 51 today, and  looks bloody fabulous:

-'Just remember one thing. Cancel my aromatherapy, my psychotherapy and reflexology, my osteopath, my homeopath and my naturopath, my crystal reading, my shiatsu, my organic hairdresser... and see if I can be re-birthed next Tuesday afternoon.'

-'No! No drugs, give the drugs to Patsy.'

-' I feel like I had slipped on a oil patch at 35 and now I'm skiing towards the grave!'

And here is my favorite parody that she and the divine Dawn French did on Tyra Banks and America's Next Top Model (both of which I also love):

M makes fun of me for it.  and sotoo many people my age have no clue who these guys are when i bring them up but i love me some old men.  not just ones like M, i'm talking old hollywood handsomes.  i dated a guy once who called me an "old soul".  i never liked that term and still don't since i think it sounds all artsy and deep.  which i am neither of.  i just grew up on old movies and i love them.  in my opinion there aren't many movies in color that are better than the black & whites.  i LOVE the leading men, they really helped make the movie back then.  how could you not love 'em?  and not only were men gentlemen back then, but they aged so gracefully.    here are some of my all-time favorites in order of greatness...

5. Robert Redford
if you've never seen the way we were open another window, log on to netflix, and reserve it now.  he's a wonderful lookin' fella.  hopefully you'll love Hubbell too!

4. Marlon Brando
yumm.  i'm not talking about The Godfather days, he's not one of the men than aged gracefully, but back in his glory days he was The Man.  many people claim streetcar as his best, but i'm a huge fan of him in Guys & Dolls.  there's one scene, when he's singing if i were a bell, and jean simmons approaches him and he puts up his dukes and snuffs his nose with his thumb.  ohmygosh, there's just something about his look and the face he makes, i want to scream and throw my panties at him it makes me that happy!  i seriously can't stop smiling whenever i see that moment.

3. Carey Grant
yah, Carey Grant.  he's the most debonair of all men.  ever.  i really don't know how any woman was supposed to be able to resist him.  that sly grin, that devilish voice.  why are there no more Carey Grants? (ps. there's no use putting up a young/old photo of him because he never looked any different)

2. Bing Crosby
i know i'm going to take flack for this one, i always do.  but i don't care because i know that my taste in men is sometimes quirky.  but the man is a comedian.  he can sing.  the man can croon with the best of them.  he's a dancer.  and he's one heck of a dancer at that.  i would be happy to find a man who could dance let alone do allof these things.  i just think he's dreamy and he could sing me to sleep every night. (tell me that when you look at the 2nd picture you don't hear "buh buh buh boo" in your head)  did i mention that he owned a race horse?

and my favorite lover of all time...

1. Paul Newman
uh, yah, Hi.  Hotness!  he truly could be one of the most beautiful men that ever lived.  from his youth to his old age.  he's just gorgeous.  and i know there are many people who will argue that Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is not his best performance (some would even have the nerve to argue it's Butch Cassidy), but i've never wanted any man more than i wanted Brick.

 so that's it for today.  don't get me wrong, there are plenty of hot men still around *cough*hughgrant*cough* but these are my oldies but goodies.

  am i missing any golden gods from way back when??

~ today i learned... Average lifespan of a major league baseball is 7 pitches ~

as we started going through box after box we realized that the mice had gotten into almost every thing.  there was poop all over (still makes me shudder).  my sister and i labeled things into one of three categories: unimportant, destroyed, salvageable.  the first two went to the dumpster the third was put into big plastic bins.  while it was sad to throw away box after box of strawberry shortcake stuff, my little pony, and carebears because the mice had destroyed them, it was neat to uncover some of the older stuff.  we found my dad's old binders from school, scribbles of him plus another girl (that wasn't my mom).  notes between him and other girls.  it was fun to find out what a playboy my dad was.  my favorite of these was a letter from a girl to him.  basically she broke up with him but really wanted to be friends, i won't get into the entire note but the last line i love.  she was talking about the upcoming dance and the last words she wrote were "save me a twist".  i'm not sure how to explain it, but that line makes me smile.

anyway, the stuff i unearthed and was able to save was nice.  alot of reminds of my youth.  the last time we did this i found the original kool aide man pitcher we loved so much.  this time i found three of the cups that went with it!  i used to drink EVERYTHING out of these.

i'm so happy to have these back.  i also found an old first aide kit.  this was from my dad's old office

i found these steins of my dad's... does anyone know what the glass one was from?  all i remember is that it used to be in the freezer all the time, just ready.  the metal one is engraved with my dad's initials, but you can't see that because of the flash

then i found this next thing.  *ed note: i found this in my caboodle... yes, with my engraved name plate!* i was so excited that i ALMOST put it on... i'm just afraid of what 20 yr old lip gloss would do to my lips.  i have a feeling it might burn. 

does anyone else recognize this?  or was i the only kid who was OBSESSED with it?!  it's the lip gloss from avon.  i don't know if they make this anymore, and the chocolate appears to have rubbed off some of the chips, but when i opened it up i grinned from ear to ear.  it still smells the same inside.  like chocolate!  it's SO tempting!

but out of the bag of crap i dragged back to VA (including old fireworks, old match books, art i made in kindergarten, glasses from our old house, etc.) this is absolutely my FAVORITE find...

i'm over the moon about this one.  i'm such a huge jackie o nut.  i think she's the most wonderful person in the world to idolize.  i'm so happy to now own this fantastic piece of history.  there was also a "vote for kennedy" button but i threw it in one of the plastic tubs and didn't feel like digging it back out.  the only thing that makes me nervous is now i feel like i need a bigger fire safe so i don't lose this.

so anyway, this is a sampling of the things that made me happy to get back.  i'll add the steins to the shelf where my dad's pipes are.  the cups and glasses will go in the cupboard and everything else wlil find it's way to safe storage.

with all this flashback... can i tell you how excited i am to find out that WKRP is on tv?!  i'm so freaking excited!!!

~ today i learned... actually, i'd like to learn something.  can anyone tell me, if i post pictures but then delete the images from my computer, will they go away on the page?  or are they there forever once they're up? ~

This is a very versatile card design.  You can easily change colors, stamp image, or sentiment to suit your needs.

All card supplies are Stampin' Up.

Stamp Sets:  Close to a Memory, Absolutely Fabulous

Cardstock:  Summer Sun, Purely Pomegranate, Whisper White

Email me at zuzana425@gmail.com to inquire or place an order.

This is such a darling card.  And so easy to make!

Cardstock:  Certainly Celery, Whisper white, Only Orange, Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip

Stamp Sets:  Polka Dots & Petals, Itty Bitty Backgrounds, Birthday Whimsy (2008 Sale-bration mini catalog)

Again, you can change the background behind the popsicle.  This would also make for a wonderful invitation card.

Email me at zuzana425@gmail.com if you're interested in any of the supply items.

Mais comment s'appelle-t-il au fait ?

Salut toi ! Non, je ne voudrais pas dire mais... T'es moche tu sais ?

Bref, je ne voulais pas écrire de long article aujourd'hui... puis dans mon élan je m'étais laissée aller... Quand tout à coup, ce fut le drame. Une mauvaise manip' et tout disparaissait. Un signe du destin probablement.

Je reviens donc (quoique tu n'as jamais connu l'existence de ce dernier "long" billet...) avec cette photo et simplement pour ne pas vous laisser dans la confusion la plus totale, l'indication qu'elle fut prise mardi dernier à l'Aquarium de la Porte dorée, dans les batiments colonialistes (construits pour l'Exposition coloniale internationale de 1931) de ce qu'était autrefois le Musée des arts africains et océaniens (collections aujourd'hui combinées à celles du Musée de l'Homme et réinvesties dans le projet Branly).
Aujourd'hui, plus rien de tout cela. Seuls les vestiges d'une architecture de caractère nous rappellent ces anciennes fonctions... ce musée s'étant récemment transformé en la triste Cité nationale de l'histoire de l'immigration (que je n'ai pas visitée, j'avoue). Et l'aquarium, resté in situ, pour la joie des petits et des grands (les "petits" sur place, en sortie scolaire étaient tout simplement survoltés... un début de visite très désagréable, en somme).

En bref, j'ai pu voir de nombreux poissons... dont certains m'ont beaucoup amusée... Je ne pensais pas en venir à prendre des photographies (du coup je n'avais que mon téléphone pour garder quelques souvenirs...) mais c'était trop pour moi ! J'ai découvert de nombreux spécimens bien sympathiques... mon préféré restant le poisson éléphant, avec sa jolie trompe.

Un petit jeu peut-être ?
Sauriez-vous* me dire le NOM du poisson en photo plus haut ?

En attendant... bonne journée et à très, très bientôt !

* je n'en ai personnellement aucune idée !